City reviews street sign design
During the Jan. 3 board of aldermen meeting, the city discussed design of street signs to go with the renaming of Memphis Street as Ida B. Wells Drive. An electronic marquee for the multi-purpose building was also proposed.
The discussion of street sign design was kicked off by Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones and Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel after Jones asked to add it to the agenda.
Jones and Holly Springs Mayor Sharon Gipson discussed color options for the street signage with Jones preferring black and white and Gipson preferring black and yellow (gold), the colors of the Holly Springs Hawks.
Teel asked where the signs would go — on side streets coming off Memphis Street? Jones suggested the city would need to order 20 signs.
“We are replacing the green signs?” Teel asked. Jones said possibly as many as 40 signs would be needed since they would go on both side streets and at intersections along Memphis Street. Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain made a motion to order 40 signs. Teel seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote of the board.. Jones proposed a double-sided electronic marquee be placed at the Eddie Lee Smith MultiPurpose Center. Gipson wanted more study before the decision was made. She wanted to “look more closely” at the proposal, that “we need to do things in a decent and orderly manner.” “Who is we?” Jones asked. “Me,” Gipson said. “We need (both) the mayor and board's approval,” Jones said. “It involves the day-to-day (operation of the city),” Gipson said. “When the board passes an order, I'm always going to check to make certain of the funds (that they are in the budget),” Jones said. “When you exceed $50,000....” Jones then made it clear that he was not calling for a board action by placing the matter on the agenda.
“I said discussion of a marquee, not purchase,” Jones said. “It is something I just started working on.” Gipson asked the board about purchase of a used leaf pickup apparatus from the Town of Hickory Flat at a price of $6,500. She said the mayor of Hickory Flat called and offered the piece of equipment that would be attached to the back of a truck. The apparatus will gather up both dry and wet leaves.
“Is it in the budget?” asked alderman at large Dexter Shipp.
City clerk Jerrica Jones said the money is available in the budget to purchase the leaf truck.
Gipson continued.
“Mr. (Curtis) Fitts checked it out and it only has 107 hours. They purchased it when their board had a burn ban and they lifted the burn ban.”
Aldermen asked about the vacuum truck and Gipson said it is not in operation and needs expensive repairs.
Teel asked what a new one would cost.
Fountain made a motion to purchase the apparatus from Hickory Flat and the motion passed by unanimous vote of the board.
Gipson praised utility workers for staying atop road clearing during the recent snow.
She said Terry Sims put down salt before the snow and after the snow to keep the streets cleared in a timely fashion.
“We really did an amazing job and I want to let our team know we appreciate it,” Gipson said.
Gipson presented a bill for a utility truck repair from Taylor Transmission. She said the truck was in for a transmission repair and overhaul when thieves went in and cut off the catalytic converter.
Ferrell Transmission of Waterford said it would require two weeks to get the work done and quoted $3,100, Gipson said.
The board approved paying Taylor Transmission for the repair work.
The consulting fee paid to Tamaiko Odum to help with customer billing at the Holly Springs Utility Department was discussed.
Odum comes in and works 8 a.m. To 5 p.m. For 30 days to help the billing department catch up with late billing, according to Gipson.
The mayor said HSUD is looking to hire someone in billing to keep the utility from being late on its billing.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather asked for an explanation.
“My question is, did we obtain her (Odum) to get it corrected and to train others?” she asked. “I'm wondering after this 30 days will they be trained.”
Gipson said she requested the help so customers would not get caught in the problem.
“I don't want to start estimating bills,” the mayor said. “We have had some challenges with GE (General Electric) meters. I hope to do a presentation this month.”
Fountain commented.
“We did see a tremendous improvement when Ms. Odum came,” she said. Fountain made a motion to pay Odum for 30 more days of work at a fee of $5,000. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the board.
Fountain asked if another person is needed in billing.
UniFirst
Annie Mason, with HSUD, brought the question of a contract with UniFirst to provide work uniforms to the employees.
She said the board approved a two-year contract but rates are higher for short-term contracts. She recommended the city enter a five-year contract to get the service cheaper.
“I am trying to hold off on new uniforms for new employees until we get the contract,” Mason said.
The board approved entering a five-year contract with UniFirst by a vote of 4-0 with Teel recusing himself because of his employment with another provider.